Push cart type ice rink resurfacing machine



J. P. LEDUC PUSH CART TYPE ICE RINK RESURFACING MACHINE Filed Oct. 20,1955 4 Sheets-Sheet l 4 f 6 Q%%%\ %N w Ma .QN. Wm WWNVM {M \n E 0 Z E m23 3 m m fh Q g N June 18, 1957 p LEDUC 2,795,870

PUSH CART TYPE ICE RINK RESURFACING MACHINE Filed 001;. 20, 1955 4Sheets-Sheet 2 20 1 1X4 25 2,62 16:? 14 gi 1 f HI" 14 9 17 l J30 J76June 18, 1957 LEDUC 2,795,870

PUSH CART TYPE ICE RINK RESURFACING MACHINE Filed 001?. 20, 1955 4Sheets-Sheet 3 J. P. LEDUC June 18, 1957 PUSH CART TYPE ICE RINKRESURFACING MACHINE Filed Oct. 20, 1955 I A 4 E. Q I N m WM. NW W x W. lQCCN QNWWM. a =g==5flfl X e 2 m W I 4,, $.a-

w m a Y 2 m .'P Je M Q X w m N N Q United States Patent PUSH CART TYPEICE RINK RESURFACING MACHINE Jean Paul Leduc, Verdun, Montreal, CanadaApplication October 20, 1955, Serial No.-541,69,7

3 Claims. (CI. 37-13) My invention relates to a push cart type ice rinkresurfacing machine, and more particularly, to, a compact; light weight,highly efficient ice. resurfacing machine for ice skating rinks and thelike.

One of the major problems that comes up in connection with the operationof ice skating rinks is the provision of a smooth ice skating surface.The blades of skaters skates inherently dig into the ice rink surface,and every few hours the ice must be cleared of skaters for resurfacingsame. This is ordinarily done by scraping or shaving the roughened icesurface in some manner, removing the shaved ice, and then spreading athin film of water on the surface of the ice to fill in depressions andprovide the new smooth. surface.

A direct result of the increase in popularity of ice. skating as a sportin recent years, and. acorresponding increase in crowds at available icerinks, has been a desire to mechanize as much as possible. the. stepsofresurfacing the ice, so that this can be done with minimum loss ofrevenue producing time and as. few attendants as possible. While anumber of ice rink resurfacing; machines have been proposed, they are inthe main. unsatisfactory for the reason that they are so complicatedthat their expense puts them out of reach of the average ice rink ownerand are too large and heavy for travelling ice shows to transport fromplace to place. Moreover, they tend to be extremely heavy, thusendangering, if not damaging, undersurface facilities, and requiring anumber of trained attendants to operate them.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight, compact, ice rink resurfacing machine that may be efficientlyoperated by one attendant, which may be so inexpensively manufacturedthat it is within reach of all ice rink owners, and which is small andcompact enough to permit travelling ice shows to take the machine withthem.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ice resurfacingmachine including an improved rotatable cutter head and providingimproved means for adjusting the blades of the cutter head with respectto the ice surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved retractableroller device for use in raising and lowering the machine cutter head toand from the ice surface being treated.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an ice rinkresurfacing machine that will readily resurface ice at the edge of therink.

in accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the invention, Iprovide a push cart type of ice resurfacing machine comprising arelatively flat platform or frame provided at its rear end with a pushcart type of handle. Adjustable roller means supports the front end ofthe platform, and retractable roller means is mounted inter- 2,795,870Patented June 18, 1957,

mediate the front and rear end thereof for raising the machine from thesurface of the ice before and after the resurfacing operation and forlowering the machine to the ice for the resurfacing operation. A maintransversely extending, horizontally disposed, cutter head is rotatablysecured to the platform underneath same adjacent the front end thereofand between the two roller means. A supplementary cutter head extendsoutwardly of one side of the platform. The platform preferably carriesthe power means for actuating the cutter heads and has secured theretoplow or scraper blade means for removing the cut ice, and a waterdistribution means that receives water from a receptacle also carried bythe platform, said water distribution means being arranged to insurethata smooth skating surface is provided.

The machine may be ope-rated by one attendant, who, after actuating thecutter heads and retracting the retractable roller device to lower thecutter heads into contact with the ice, pushes the machine along as onewould operate a push cart. Prefer-ably, the cutter heads are rotated sothat the blades thereof tend to pull the machine along over the ice asthey cut it, thus materially lessening the effort required by theoperator.

Other objects, uses, and advantages will be obvious or become. apparentafter a perusal of the following description and the drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of theinvention showing the machine in resurfacing position, the cutter headsbeing omitted for clarity of illustration;

Figure 2, is a plan view of the machine shown in ure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail of the upper right hand corner of the machine asshown in- Figure 2;

Figure 4 is front end elevational view of the machine of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is across sectional view along line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is similar to Figure 5, but isa fragmentalview illustrating theoperation of the retractable roller device employed in my invention;

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view along line 7--7 of Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is an enlargement of the cutter head and adjacent structureshown in Figure 5.

Referring first to Figures 1, 2 and 4-, reference numeral 10 generallyindicates the preferred embodiment of my invention com-prisingarelatively fiat platform or frame 12. supported at its front end byadjustable roller means 14 and carrying runner means 16 that extend asubstantial portion of its length. The power means 18 carried on theplatform operates a rotatable cutting means 20. The platform 12including the cutting means and runner means, are raised and loweredfrom and to the ice surface by a retractable roller device 22 operatedfrom the push cart type handle 24 secured to the rear end of themachine. The machine also includes a plow element 2 6 for moving the cutice, known as snow, to one side of the machine, and a water distributionunit 28. A re-. ceptacle means 32 is carried by the platform forsupplying Water to the water distribution unit 28.

The platform or frame 12 generally comprises a pair of verticallydisposed plates 34 secured together in spaced apart relation by :aplurality of planks or boards 36 bolted or otherwise secured thereto.Alternately, marine lFigplywood would be satisfactory. Runners 38 arefixed to the undersurface of the platform or frame by suitable elements40 (see Figure 4). A beam 42 (see Figure 4) is secured to the front endof the platform or frame by bolts 44 passing through slots 46 formed inthe beam ends into the angled ends 48 of the side plates 34. Washers 50may be interposed between the heads of bolts 44 and the beam ends. Thebeam ends are preferably not tightly secured to the side plates 34, butrather are secured for sliding vertical movement with respect thereto.

Adjacent each end of the beam 42, a roller means 14 is mounted, eachcomprising in the illustrated embodiment a Uashaped member 52 having aroller 54 journalled between the arms 56 thereof and a screw threadedhole 58 formed in the web 60 thereof. The members 52 are welded to thebeam 42 as at 62 and a screw threaded end of a rod 64 rotatably mountedon the platform in bearings 66 is received in the holes 58 of themembers 52. Each rod 64 has an annular gripping hand wheel 68 keyed tothe upwardly extending end thereof.

lust below one of the boards 36 a rod or shaft 70 (see Figures 1, and 6)is rotatably mounted between the plates 34 in any suitable manner. Armsor levers 72 are welded to each end of the rod 70 at one end of each andadjacent the arm or lever 72 on the left hand side of the machine an armor lever 74 is fixed to rod or shaft 70 in a similar manner. A plate 76is fixed to each side plate 34 below the shaft or rod '7 0, in themanner indicated in Figure 7, wherein a plate 76 is shown welded to ablock element 78 in turn welded to the adjacent plate 34. Each plate 76is formed with a pair of vertical slots 80 and 82 into each of whichextends a bolt 84 fixed to the retractable roller means 86 ofretractable roller device 22. The retractable roller means 86 comprisesa U-shaped element 88 having a roller 90 journalled between the legs 92thereof, the roller 90 being mounted on the lower bolt 84 in the presentembodiment. An upright bar or rod 94 is welded to the web 95 of theelement 88, the upper end of which is pivotally connected to theoutwardly projecting end of arm 72 by pin 96. The outwardly extendingend of the arm 74 is pivotally connected to the link 98 that extends tothe rear of the platform and is in turn pivotally connected .to link 100that extends substantially parallel to the handle 24. A link 101 maypivot the pivotal connection of links 98 and 100 to the platform 12.

The handle 24 generally compresses a pair of spaced apart angle bars102, fixed at their lower ends to the side plates 34, having a handgripping rod 104 (see Figure 2) fixed between their upper ends. A plate106 (see Figure l) is fixed to the bar 102 on the same side that thelink 98 is on (the left hand side in the illustrated embodimerit), alever 108 being pivoted intermediate its ends to the plate by a pin 110.The upwardly extending end of the link 100 is pivotally connected to theupwardly projecting end 112 of the lever 108 and .a pawl 116 biased by asuitable spring 118 cooperates with the ratchet teeth 120 formed on thecurved portion of plate 106 to provide a releasable latching device forthe retractable roller device. Hand lever 119 pivoted at 121 to lever108 and connected to pawl 116 by links 123 is provided for ease inoperating the pawl.

As shown more particularly in Figures 1, 2 and 3 the plow element 26,comprising a plow or scraper blade 124, and a water distribution unit 28are mounted :at the rear of the machine in that order outwardly from theplatform. In the illustrated embodiment, the plow blade 124 is pivotedto the rearwardly extending center bar 130 by a bolt 132 (see Figure 2)welded to the plow and extending through this plate and at each end onehinge wing 134 is welded to the plow. An elongate plate 122, comprisinga hinge Wing, is fixed to each plate 34, a hinge wing 134 meshing with ahinge wing 122-when the plow blade is inclined as shown to receive abolt 136 to secure the blade in this position. By removing bolt 136 landpivoting the plow blade 124 about bolt 132, the other wings 122 and 134may be brought into meshing engage-- ment to receive the bolt 136. Asuitably sized receptacle, such as the fifty gall-on drum 172, comprisesthe receptacle means 32 and is mounted on the upper surface of theplatform alongside power means 18. Conduit means, gen erally indicatedat 174, including suitable valve 176, connects the receptacle with thehollow horizontal conduit 142 of water distribution means 28, theconduit 142 being formed along its lower edges with a plurality of smallholes through which water passes onto the ice, and is smoothed out bythe strip of duck canvas 144.

A suitable electric motor .148, operated by a switch 149, or other powerunit, is mounted on the upper surface of platform or frame 12 foractuating the rotatable cutting means 20. Referring to Figures 1, 4, 5and 8, the cutting means comprises cutter head '150 having, forinstance, a pair of cutting blades 152 (four may also be employed)mounted in recesses 154 formed thereon. The respective blades 152 aresecured to the cutter head by bolts 158 positioned in slots 156 formedtherein and screwed into suitable holes formed in the cutter head.Suitable washers 159 maybe employed if desired. Set screws 160 may beprovided for adjusting the (amount the sharp edge of each bladeprotrudes from the cutter head. The cutter head v150 includes a stubshaft 162 at each end thereof which are respectively mounted in suitablebearings 164 mounted in the side plates 34. One of the stub shafts eX- Itends outwardly of a bearing 164, and has keyed thereto suitable'pulleys166 adapted to be engaged by pulley belts 168 powered by the motor148.The motor 148 is preferably actuated by connecting the end of theelectrical conduit 170 to 3. suitable battery carried on the platform orto an electrical outlet (not shown) of the type that is normally foundin the ceilings of enclosed ice rinks. If desired, :a small gasolineengine can be substituted for the motor 148.

A shaft 180 is journalled in bearings 182 fixed to the members 40, andis positioned rearwardly of cutter head 150. On the right hand side ofthe machine this shaft extends outwardly to a pulley 184 powered bypulley belts 168. On the other side of the machine this shaft extendsoutwardly to a short cutter head 186, similar in form to cutter head150, that protrudes beyond the left side of the platform somewhat asshown in Figures 2 and 4 for a purpose hereinafter made clear. Asuitable framework 188 journalling the outer end of cutter head 184 maybe provided to hold this cutter head from undesirable sidewise movementand protect it from obstructions.

Before the machine 10 is put into operation, the receptacle 172 isfilled with water, and the conduit 170 connected to a source ofelectrical energy. The retractableroller device, which, when the machineis not in use is normally in the extended position, so that the machinemay be wheeled about, is operated by moving the lever 108 to the fullline position shown in Figure 1 to retract the rollers 90. The runners38 and the adjustable rollers 54 will then support the platform or framewith the cutter head 150 positioned closely adjacent the surface of theice. By turning the annular hand wheels 68, the depth of cut of theblades 152 may be varied. The angled ends 48 of plates 34 may beprovided with suitable indicia as at-190 to aid in positioning thecutter head for the desired cut.

Themotor 148 should be turned on before the rollers are retracted and itrotates the cutter head in the direction of the arrows of Figure 8. Itwill be noted thatthis direction is such that the blades 152 are drawnfrom front to rear when they are in contact with the ice, and move fromthe rear forwardly when they are above the ice, with the result that thecutter head tends to pull the machine along the ice as it cuts. It willbe appreciated that this materially cuts down, if not entirelyeliminating; the efiort required by the attendant to move the machine.The valve 176 should be opened to permit water to drain from the drum172 to the water distribution unit 28. The: operator then moves themachine across the surface of the ice by pushing against the handle bar104' in much the same way that he would push a hand cart.

As the operator moves the machine across the ice, the

cutter blade cuts down the surface thereof a moderate depth, nomore thaninch in the illustrated embodiment. The blade 124 catches thesnow"produced by this cutting operation and deflects it to one side of themachine where it may be picked up by another attendant following alongbehind. The water leaves the conduit 142 and passes onto the surface ofthe ice, to be wiped into a smooth level surface by the fabric strip144.

By positioning the cutter head 186 adjacent the rink boards normallydefining the edge of the rink, the ice surface can be resurfaced rightup to the edge of the rink. In so doing, the operator merely runs themachine around the periphery of the rink with cutter head 186 positionedas closely as possible to the rink boards. Framework 188 protects thecutter head 186 from contact with the rink boards and insures that itwill not be jarred out of axial alignment. It will be noted that cutterheads 150 and 186 are both automatically a-djusted for proper depth ofcut by turning hand wheels 68.

After use, the retractable roller 90 may be extended by moving the leverclockwise (as seen in Figure l). The machine then may be wheeled off ofthe ice and into the place of storage.

One of the novel features of my machine is that it will level thesurface of the ice relatively close to the side boards or ring normallydefining the edge of a rink. As is well known in this art, the surfaceof the ice tends to build up around the outer periphery of the rink.However, by properly adjusting the level of beam 42, the level of theice obtained at the center of the rink may be extended close to thesides thereof.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention stands thirty-two inches inheight, is thirty-six inches wide, forty-five inches in length andweighs only five hundred pounds. The cutter head 150 cuts a swathethirty-two inches wide. The compactness and light weight of the devicemake it unusually easy to handle, and since it is so easily operated,skilled operators are not required. Only one operator is needed tooperate the machine, with one or more attendants following to take upthe snow formed by the cutter head. I contemplate that means may beprovided for taking up this snow and melting it to provide water for thereceptacle. However, to preserve lightness of weight, compactness, andportability, I prefer not to employ such means on the illustratedembodiment.

It will be appreciated that my machine may be made from few and simpleelements that are inexpensively obtained and assembled. Theinexpensiveness of my machine, in addition to its compactness andlightness in weight, puts it in reach of small ice skating rink ownersand ice shows financially, who heretofore could not afford to buy andship from place to place the relatively large and heavy conventionalresurfacing machines.

The foregoing description and the drawings are given merely to explainand illustrate my invention, and the manner in which it may beperformed, and the invention is not to be limited thereto, exceptinsofar as the appended claims are so limited since those skilled in theart who have my disclosure before them will be able to makemodifications and variations therein without departing from the scope ofthe invention.

I claim:

1. An ice rink resurfacing machine comprising a relatively flat platformhaving front and rear ends, a beam mounted on said platform at the frontend thereof for limited vertical movement, roller means secured to eachend of said beam, said roller means being adapted to engage the surfaceof the ice, screw threaded means for vertically'adjii's'ting each end ofsaid beam, further roller means secured to said platform intermediatethe front and rear ends thereof, said further roller meansbeingretract'ahly' mounted, runner means secured to said platformbetweensaid further'roller means and the rear end' of said platform,means for retracting said further roller means a to per'rnirsaidrunnermeans-to engage the ice, and'a cutter head rotatably mounted on saidplatform adjacent the first mentioned rbllefnieans and adapted to bepositioned adjacent the surface of the-ice; said cutter head includingat least one cutting blade, and means for rotating said cutter head,said cutter head being rotated in a direction to draw said cutting bladefrom front to rear as it engages the ice.

2. An ice rink resurfacing machine comprising a relatively flat platformhaving front and rear ends, a push cart type handle secured to said rearend of said platform, a beam mounted on said platform at the front endthereof for limited vertical movement with respect to the platform,roller means secured to each end of said beam, said front end of saidplatform being supported on said roller means, means for verticallyadjusting each end of said beam, further roller means secured to saidplatform intermediate the front and rear ends thereof, longitudinallyextending runner means secured to said platform between said furtherroller means and the rear end of said platform, said further rollermeans comprising a retractable roller device for supporting the rear endof the platform which when said device is extended, said platform beingsupported by said runner means when said device is retracted, saidretractable roller device comprising a generally horizontal shaftrotatably secured to said platform, an elongate vertical plate securedto said platform adjacent said shaft, wheel means positioned adjacentsaid plate, said wheel means including a roller, means slidably securingsaid wheel means to said plate for vertical movement with respectthereto, a first arm keyed to said shaft at one end thereof and securedto said wheel means at the other end thereof, a second arm keyed to saidshaft, a lever pivotally mounted on said handle intermediate the ends ofsaid lever, linkage means extending between and connecting one end ofsaid lever and said second arm, releasable latch means for releasablylocking said further roller means in extended position, a horizontallydisposed cutter head rotatably mounted at the front end of said platformbetween the first mentioned roller means and said further roller means,said cutter head including at least one transversely extending bladeadapted to engage the ice, means for rotating said cutter head, saidcutter head being rotated in a direction to draw said cutting blade fromfront to rear as the blade engages the ice, a plow blade secured to saidplatform adjacent the rear end thereof, water distribution means securedto said platform adjacent the rear end thereof, said water distributionmeans being positioned outwardly of said blade, a liquid receptaclemounted on said platform, and conduit means connecting said receptaclewith said distribution means.

3. An ice rink resurfacing machine comprising a relatively flat platformhaving front and rear ends and a relatively low center of gravity,upwardly extending handle means secured to the rear end of saidplatform, first roller means supporting said front end of said platform,second roller means being secured to said platform intermediate thefront and rear ends thereof, said second roller means being retractablymounted, runner means secured to said platform between said secondroller means and the rear end of said platform, means for retractingsaid second roller means to permit said runner means to engage the ice,a rotatable cutting means secured to said platform between said firstand second roller means and extending crosswise of the platform, saidcutting means including at least one cutting blade, means for rotatingsaid cutting means, said cutting means being rotated in a direction todraw said cutting blade from front to rear as it engages the ice, atransversely extending plow blade secured to said platform adjacent therear end thereof and under said handle means, water distribution meanssecured to said platform outwardly of said blade, means for supplyingwater to said water distribution means including a water receptaclemounted on said platform, and supplemental cutting means secured to saidplatform adjacent the first mentioned cutting means and between saidfirst and second roller means, said supplemental cutting means extendingoutwardly of one side of said platform.

1 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSHourihan June 26, 1900 Green et al. Feb. 24, 1903 Delong Aug. 26, 1919Lloyd Oct. 6, 1925 Courtney Dec. 1, 1925 Gray May 22, 1928 Zamboni June23, 1953

